Under the modern centre lie remains of Coriovallum, the Roman settlement at the crossroads of routes through the region. Its bathhouse, discovered in 1940, is one of the Netherlands’ most significant Roman structures; a new Roman Museum is being developed around the protected remains. Nearby streets and finds connect the ancient settlement with the later town.
Heerlen’s 20th-century growth was driven by coal mining, a history presented at the Dutch Mining Museum in a former shaft building. Today, murals bring colour to walls and public spaces, while Schunck’s Glaspaleis, a modernist glass department store, stands beside St Pancras Church. The contrast between Roman remains, mining heritage and contemporary art defines the centre.
